The results have just been announced for 2014 British Wildlife Photography Awards. I was fortunate to receive a Highly Commended for my image of a raft spider.
Category: Hidden Britain
Title: Guardian in the Grass
Canon 1DX | 24mm | 1/100sec | f11| Off-camera flash
Its amazing how much wildlife you can encourage into your garden just by letting it grow naturally. Up until a few years ago we used to mow this paddock several times a year. Today many would see it as field of weeds but to me its a wildlife haven. I included the barn in the image below, as it is also an important part of the habitat. Lots of insects and spiders benefit from the red brick walls that warm up in the sun throughout the day. Some of my best findings have been discovered around the edge of the building making it an important area of my study.
The area of study: Paddock
Various species of arachnids living in the paddock
In order to encourage particular wildlife, I laid down six chip board panels amongst the grass. The panels provide a whole host of wildlife with shelter and in some cases a home. The boards warm up nicely in the sun which the snakes particularly benefit from.
A litter of bank voles in a nest under one of the panels
Within a week of putting down the panels, I had mice, voles, shrews and grass snakes living underneath them. Over the course of the summer I have lost count of the number of nesting voles that I have encountered under the boards.
The population of bank voles in the paddock is booming. Everywhere I look I find new nests. If you just sit and listen your can hear squeaking and rustling coming from within the long grass.
Amazingly, bank voles become sexually mature at just five weeks old. Female bank voles can produce up to four or five litters a year which explains the numbers found within my paddock.
I have been documenting the bank voles with the aid of my field studio to create ‘Meet Your Neighbours’ style images.
The setup
The results
To be continued…
I cant seem to get enough of these amazing spiders. They pose perfectly allowing you to set up and compose your shot. I rarely come across a creature that will rest motionless allowing you to use slow shutter speeds to enable optimal apertures at a low ISO on a dull day.
Shutter speed - 1/16 sec
Aperture - f11
ISO 400
Tripod
Here are a few from my visit to RSPB Arne in Dorset. It is always a pleasure photographing new subjects on white.
Wasp spider Argiope bruennichi
Raft spider Dolomedes fimbriatus
High resolution images can be viewed with the following link:-
I have recently just spent several days at one of my favourite places in Dorset which is the Arne Peninsula. Arne at this time of year is awash with spider activity. Their webs cover the landscape creating a real spectacle that I highly recommend going to see. I have edited a few images in the short time that I have back home before heading to Cornwall to attend my graduation. I will post more images when I am back, but in the meantime here are a few of my favourites.
Four-spot orb weaver Araneus quadratus
Wasp spider Argiope bruennichi
Raft spider protecting young Dolomedes fimbriatus
Raft spider protecting young Dolomedes fimbriatus
Garden spider Araneus diadematus
High resolution images can be viewed with the following link:-
